Cocaine vaccine?

Despite the overall decrease in cocaine use, only 38 percent of the subjects taking the high levels of vaccine achieved sufficient levels of antibodies to prevent the absorption of cocaine into the brain. And of this minority, the functional levels of antibodies were present starting only after two months from the first vaccine and were in decline 16 to 24 weeks into the trial.

Thomas Kosten, a professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and a lead study author, is confident that with better vaccine ingredients (theirs used a traditional cholera toxin strengthened with an aluminum hydroxide adjuvant), the vaccine's effectiveness could be improved to as high as 80 percent. In animal trials, he noted, with newer vaccines donated from pharmaceutical companies the researchers found more than four times the amount of antibodies in the rats.

Although the vaccine lessened or negated participants' ability to feel high from the drug, many of the trial participants still consumed cocaine—and at levels far higher than normal. Such so-called "testing," as Kosten noted in the press briefing, was expected and is seen in animal experiments, as well. And even after having warned trial volunteers about the potential dangers of challenging the dosage limits when they couldn't reach an expected high, some showed as much as 10 times the habitual amount of cocaine in their urine until, he said, they likely just ran out of money.

Okay, seriously, WTF? This study shows 38 percent efficacy over an unpredictable one-to-two month window, and even then cocaine use actually increases among many users and becomes more dangerous and financially problematic. And they use cholera toxin? So here's the kicker:

The search for a cocaine vaccine has also revealed that some individuals "seem to be immune to immunization," Kosten said. Like acclimation to a former allergen, he explained, it is possible for "your body [to] think that it's a part of you," and to not allow antibodies to bind to the cocaine molecule.

I would call these results a problem, but others see cause for celebration:

The new findings, which Volkow called "transformative" in the briefing, may ultimately be translatable to other addictive substances, and may pave the way to creating anti-addiction vaccines for other drugs. "We're very enthusiastic about this," Kosten said about this prospect.

Thanks to all the readers who sent links to this story our way.